Voter registration deadline nears for Nov. general election

Wednesday

Oct 3, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents they have until Tuesday, Oct. 9 to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election.

“If you would like to vote in the upcoming presidential election, you only have a few more days to register,” said Johnson, Michigan’s chief election officer. “Once you have registered, you have the means to express your voice through one of our greatest Constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms — the right to vote.”

To register to vote, applicants must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. Applicants must also be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register.

Voters may register by mail, at their county, city or township clerk’s office, or by visiting any Secretary of State office. The mail-in form is available at www.Michigan.gov/elections. First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

To check their registration status, residents may visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote. On the website, residents can view a sample ballot, find their polling location, learn about absentee voting, get information on Michigan’s voter ID laws and view contact information for their local clerk.

The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters who qualify may choose to cast an absentee ballot.

Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday, Nov. 5 must fill out the ballot in the clerk’s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.

As a reminder, voters will be asked to provide identification when at the polls on Election Day. They will be asked to present valid photo ID, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them to the polls can still vote. They will be required to sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Additional election information can be found at www.Michigan.gov/elections.